For my first post I'd thought I'd share something I find quite interesting...
Warning! The following article contains a small amount of biological science and a large amount of biological awesome, all illustrating the fact that Nature doesn't subscribe to the opinion that anything that isn't a Cisgendered Heterosexual is 'Unnatural'.
Now, whilst we know this is true. How's about a few examples?
Homosexuality in Nature
Instead of listing every animal I can, I'm going to focus on a select few species. Species which are exclusively same sex. Species such as The New Mexico Whiptail (Cnemidophorus neomexicanus), or the Mourning Gecko (Lepidodactylus lugubris). The New Mexico Whiptail has been dubbed "Lesbian Lizards"; These Lizards reproduce by a mechanism known as Parthenogenesis (Virgin-Birth literally). When 2 New Mexico Whiptails meet, one Lizard assumes the role of the Male and feigns copulation, this stimulates the production of egg cells in the 'female' Lizard which then results in Parthenogenesis and this the continuation of the species.
Parthenogenesis works by recombining the egg cells formed during Meiosis, this varies the eggs slightly so the hatchlings aren't exact clones. Unfortunately due to the reproduction being asexual there isn't that much genetic variety, so a sudden change could kill them off rather easily.
Transgender in Nature
In a few fish species individuals will change sex to accommodate the hierarchy they live in.
Clown fish live in schools of varying numbers, in something called a Dominance Hierarchy; this means there are 2 animals that are dominant; a male and a female, then individual smaller males below that. If the female dies then something peculiar happens: the dominant male will undergo metamorphosis into a new dominant female, and each male below her will grow slightly bigger and become more dominant. So technically, Nemo's dad should've been his Mom.
The Wrasse family also undergo a similar metamorphosis, except their hierarchies are more haremic. With a single male looking after a harem of females, when this male dies the most dominant female will take his place.
These are just a few examples from an entire kingdom that demonstrates every form of QUILTBAG going. So next time someone says "Oh that's not natural" point out to them that Cisgender Heterosexuals are not the only "Natural" forms found in nature, because Nature; by definition, is Natural.
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